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Pathfinder Study for the Adoption of Cell and Gene Therapies in Ireland

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Pathfinder Study for the Adoption of Cell and Gene Therapies in Ireland PwC and IPHA Pathfinder Study for the Adoption of Cell and Gene Therapies in Ireland May 2021 2 | The Pathway to CGT Adoption in Ireland This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it. ©2021 PwC. All rights reserved. Not for further distribution without the permission of PwC. “PwC” refers to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwCIL), or, as the context requires, individual member firms of the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity and does not act as agent of PwCIL or any other member firm. PwCIL does not provide any services to clients. PwCIL is not responsible or liable for the acts or omissions of any of its member firms nor can it control the exercise of their professional judgment or bind them in any way. No member firm is responsible or liable for the acts or omissions of any other member firm nor can it control the exercise of another member firm’s professional judgment or bind another member firm or PwCIL in any way. 3 | The Pathway to CGT Adoption in Ireland Vision Statement CGTs are usually one-time treatments that can add months, Our research led to sometimes years, to a patient’s life, replacing a lifetime of treatment. The study argues that, although the upfront cost three major findings of CGTs is significant, they could reduce the long-term direct and indirect costs of chronic treatment for certain illnesses, Cell and Gene Therapies (CGTs) have achieved improving patient outcomes. Our analysis cites cancer, 1 groundbreaking clinical results in a number of haemophilia and spinal muscular atrophy Type 1 as diseases therapeutic areas, significantly improving the where CGTs could yield crucial economic and clinical standard of care for patients with serious illnesses. upsides. For certain degenerative diseases, the European We hope the study can inform the healthcare policy debate 2 Medicines Agency has approved CGTs that can in the near term. CGTs bring clear clinical benefits but they halt the progression of the disease. Historically need to be integrated into the care pathway in a financially treatment for many of these illnesses has been sustainable way. How the health system pays for them, and supportive rather than curative. how their value is measured in the community, are areas for further consideration. Now is the time to start a dialogue with A re-think of the reimbursement model is key stakeholders. Innovation moves at pace and so must our 3 required to ensure Irish patients can access new policymaking. medicines and to encourage further innovation in new medicines and therapies. This will require multi-stakeholder collaboration. 4 | The Pathway to CGT Adoption in Ireland Plotting The Adoption Path In medicine, there is a revolution happening that is changing The goal is fully aligned with Sláintecare’s vision for world- • Explore novel reimbursement models for CGTs to ensure how we treat, and potentially cure, some of the most class standards of care in Ireland. The study recognises broad access and value for money for Irish patients; and, devastating of diseases. Cell and gene therapies, or CGTs, that current reimbursement models should be adapted for • Continue to invest in facilities and staff to ensure a are a new frontier in science that holds the prospect of CGTs. The delivery of both clinical benefit and value for smooth national rollout of CGTs, exploring the creation of significantly modifying the trajectory of disease and, in the money in CGT adoption needs to be explored through novel ‘centres of excellence’ at certain hospital sites and allied process, changing the lives of patients for the better. reimbursement pathways. investment in training and engagement for clinicians and Cell therapy replaces diseased, faulty or missing cells with Across the world, CGTs are either in use or in research patients. healthy versions. Gene therapy helps correct faulty DNA for the treatment of a range of disease areas, including The study shows that CGTs have achieved ground-breaking to cure genetic diseases. These breakthrough treatments, cancer, blood disorders, ophthalmology, neurology, and results in several therapeutic areas, including in cancer, aiming to treat, prevent and potentially cure genetic and musculoskeletal, metabolic and endocrinological conditions. degenerative diseases (inherited retinal disease), neurological acquired diseases, are, so far, not available in Ireland. In this In the US, the medicines regulator, the Food and Drug diseases (spinal muscular atrophy) and haemophilia. CAR-T, study, we outline a set of recommendations that are intended Administration, expects to approve between 10 and 20 new a form of cell therapy, is used to treat leukaemia, lymphoma to add urgency to the cell and gene therapy adoption effort. CGTs between now and 2025. Europe’s medicines regulator, and multiple myeloma. It is available in more than 15 EU Considered policymaking happens through dialogue - but the European Medicines Agency, has approved CGTs for countries but not yet in Ireland. The Treatment Abroad action must swiftly follow. Patients cannot wait. leukaemia, lymphoma, retinitis pigmentosa, spinal muscular Scheme covers treatments not available in Ireland or where atrophy and Crohn’s disease. Together, thousands of patients there is delay in getting a treatment. In 2019, the scheme The originator industry in Ireland, through the Irish in Ireland could benefit from CGTs for these diseases if they cost the State €54 million, according to the Health Service Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), were reimbursed locally. Executive. commissioned the global professional services firm, PwC, to carry out a pathfinder study on the adoption of CGTs by the The study makes several recommendations that would The evolution of science, especially our understanding of the health services. This study is the industry’s response to an help patients to access potentially life-changing therapies, causes of disease, is beginning an exciting era for medicines. urgent public healthcare need. including: Innovation is transforming standards of care, moving towards more targeted treatments and enabling improvements in In undertaking the study, IPHA asked PwC to gather experts’ • The development of a CGT adoption policy, guided by patient, health and social outcomes. Clinical options for perspectives. We interviewed a range of leaders across a White Paper led by the Department of Health, which patients are widening - but we must work together to find clinical care, regulatory affairs, patient advocacy and the draws together proposals for tackling the related strands ways of sustainably adopting them in the health services. biopharmaceutical industry. We examined globally available of assessment, access and reimbursement; That will take joint working - and there is no time to lose. clinical data on CGTs. • Improve the information infrastructure and implement new We look forward to the journey ahead. The goal of the study is to prompt the development of policy initiatives to enable real-world evidence collection a White Paper, enabled by structured cross-stakeholder for key disease areas likely to benefit from CGTs in the dialogue, ideally led by the Department of Health. That would short term and start planning for a broader rollout of CGTs ultimately yield a national policy on the adoption of CGTs in in other areas in the medium term; Ireland. This is important for patients and for their clinicians. 5 | The Pathway to CGT Adoption in Ireland “This study moves “CGTs are “Standard treatment Ireland closer to revolutionising since the 1970s has having a policy on medicine. They often been intravenous the adoption of offer better treatment infusions of the CGTs by the health options for life- missing clotting services. That will take threatening illnesses. In factor. Now, science dialogue and careful some cases, they have is offering potentially planning - but, on the potential to cure breakthrough the basis of clinical diseases altogether. treatments for evidence so far, it is Gene therapy for haemophilia. Last the right thing to do ocular diseases is March, the first for better patient care, a significant area of Irish person with aligned with the goals of Sláintecare. We must research, especially since many rare, blinding haemophilia B was treated with gene therapy as be open to adopting new innovations affordably retinal diseases do not have treatments now. part of a clinical trial. It was a landmark moment and at pace in our health services. This study We can work on the eye more easily because for the haemophilia community in Ireland. We is an industry contribution to an urgent public it is an enclosed organ with elements of are moving closer to making gene therapy a policy need. We were keen to gather experts’ immune privilege and several identified genetic possible functional cure for haemophilia. This perspectives, including from doctors, patients mutations that could be targeted. The way study is an important signpost on a journey and our own industry. We hope the study can forward is to have a policy on CGTs that makes towards the adoption of approved CGTs in the prompt structured dialogue in the form of a it possible for doctors to prescribe approved health services. The impact on patients’ lives cross-stakeholder forum, led by the Department CGTs for their patients locally.” could be transformational.” of Health, which would ultimately yield a national policy on the adoption of CGTs in Ireland.
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